Hua Suea
Crowned Tiger Head
A tiger head in profile with open jaws, an ornate Thai crown and a string of large beads, with a curving line of Khom script around it.
✦Meaning & Background
A tiger in profile with bared fangs, crowned and hung with a string of beads, with loose Khom letters, a small unalome and one continuous line of script around the head. In the tradition the tiger stands for strength, courage and authority. The crown and jewellery give the wild animal the bearing of a king: strength that carries dignity.
✦More about this design
The tiger head on the site looks straight at you: a frontal head with open jaws, compact and symmetrical. This tiger turns its head aside. You see it in profile, with bared fangs, an ornate Thai crown on its head and a string of large beads around its neck. Here the animal is not only a predator but also dressed as a king. In Thai imagery a crown marks a figure as standing above the ordinary, as with the crowned figure between two tigers. Placed on a tiger, it adds authority and dignity to the strength of the animal. The string of beads is reminiscent of a prayer string. Around the head are loose Khom letters, a small unalome and a line of script that starts as a spire at the top right and curves beneath the head to the left. Because the head is in profile and the script curves along one side, the design is not symmetrical. That makes it a good fit for a shoulder blade or the outside of the upper arm. If you prefer the tiger head frontal and in a closed shape, you will find it as the tiger head in eight directions. Browse all Sak Yant designs, read about all Sak Yant symbols or book an appointment.
✦Frequently asked questions
How does this differ from the regular tiger head?
The regular Hua Suea faces you head-on. This tiger is in profile and wears a crown and a string of beads, dressing the animal as a king.
What does the crown mean?
In Thai imagery a crown marks a figure as standing above the ordinary. On a tiger it adds authority and dignity to the strength of the animal.
Where is this design usually placed?
On a shoulder blade or the outside of the upper arm. Because the design is not symmetrical, it does not need a centre line on the body.
